Tuesday, October 19, 2010

1976 Topps #589 - Rookie Pitchers (Alcala, Flanagan, Pactwa, Torrealba)



  • I didn't care for these four-player rookie cards when I was a kid:
    • I couldn't file the cards under a particular team
    • The cards didn't have very much information about the players
    • I cared more about getting players I had heard of instead of rookies
    • The only rookies I heard of were the ones who played with or against the Phoenix Giants in the Pacific Coast League.
  • Santo Alcala
    • Signed by the Cincinnati Reds in 1970
    • Pitched for the Reds (1976, 1977) and the Montreal Expos (1977)
    • 11-4, 3.70 ERA in 30 games (21 starts) in 1976 -- did not pitch in the postseason
    • Started the 1977 season 1-1 with a 5.74 ERA in seven games (two starts) for the Reds
    • Traded to the Montreal Expos on May 21 for Shane Rawley and Angel Torres
    • Was 2-6 with two saves and had a 4.69 ERA in 31 games (10 starts) for the Expos in 1977
    • Waived to the Seattle Mariners before the 1978 season
    • Pitched in the Seattle organization in 1978 and in the Pittsburgh Pirates organization from 1979-1982 but never got back to the majors.
  • Mike Flanagan
    • Mike was by far the most successful player on this card.
    • Drafted in 1973 by the Baltimore Orioles
    • Started pitching for the Orioles in September 1975 (0-1, 2.79 ERA in two games)
    • 1976 - split the season between Baltimore (3-5, 4.13 ERA) and AAA Rochester.
    • 1977 - 15-10, 3.64 ERA
    • 1978 - 19-15, 4.03 ERA; led AL with 40 starts; AL All Star (didn't get in game)
    • 1979 - 23-9, 3.08 ERA; led AL in wins; AL Cy Young Award winner; 1-0 in ALCS, 1-1 in World Series
    • 1980 - 16-13, 4.12 ERA
    • 1981 - 4-6, 4.19 ERA
    • 1982 - 15-11, 3.97 ERA
    • 1983 - 12-4, 3.30 ERA; missed 10 weeks of the season with a knee injury; 1-0 in ALCS, 0-0 in one start in World Series
    • 1984 - 13-13, 3.53 ERA
    • 1985 - 4-5, 5.13 ERA; didn't pitch until July 20 due to a torn achilles tendon
    • 1986 - 7-11, 4.24 ERA
    • 1987 - 3-6, 4.94 ERA with Orioles; traded to Toronto Blue Jays on August 31; 3-2, 2.37 ERA with Blue Jays
    • 1988 - 13-13, 4.18 ERA
    • 1989 - 8-10, 3.93 ERA; started and lost game 4 of ALCS
    • 1990 - 2-2, 5.31 ERA in five starts; last game was May 4; released by Blue Jays on May 8
    • 1991 - Tried out with Orioles in spring training and made the ballclub; 2-7, 3 saves, 2.38 ERA in 64 games (1 start)
    • 1992 - 0-0, 8.05 ERA in 42 games; retired after the season
    • Has been a pitching coach, a front office executive, and a broadcaster with the Orioles since his playing career ended.
    • Mike Flanagan: A Career That Almost Wasn't - January 1980 Baseball Digest
  • Joe Pactwa
    • Drafted by the New York Yankees in 1966
    • Pitched in the Yankees organization from 1966-1974 without making it to the majors
    • Originally an outfielder but started pitching in 1973.
    • Spent most of the 1975 season in the Mexican League and purchased by the California Angels on September 12.
    • Pitched for the Angels at the end of the 1975 season and went 1-0 with a 3.86 ERA in four games (three starts)
    • Played in Mexico from 1976-1982.
    • Passed away at the age of 60 on March 10, 2009
  • Pablo Torrealba
    • Signed by the Atlanta Braves in 1966
    • Pitched in the minors from 1966-1971
    • Did  not pitch in 1972 and then returned to the Braves organization in 1973 and pitched in the minors from 1973-1975.
    • Started the 1975 season with the Braves and went 0-1 with a 1.35 ERA in six games before being sent down to AAA Richmond
    • Spent the entire 1976 season with the Braves and went 0-2 with two saves and had a 3.57 ERA in 36 games
    • Sold to the Oakland A's during spring training in 1977
    • Went 4-6 with two saves and had a 2.62 ERA in 41 games (10 starts) in 1977.
    • Traded to the Chicago White Sox during spring training in 1978 for Jim Essian and Steve Renko
    • Had a 2-4 record with one save and a 4.71 ERA in 25 games (three starts) in 1978
    • Started the 1979 season with the White Sox (0-0, 1.59 ERA in three games) but was sent down in late April and spent the majority of the season with AAA Iowa. Pablo had a 6.95 ERA for Iowa in 1979, which was  his last season.
    • Pablo is now the scouting coordinator in Venezuela for the Houston Astros.

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2 comments:

  1. I dread the point when I get to these on my blog. Still not sure what I'll do.

    ReplyDelete
  2. A few of these entries in the 590s may be every other day instead of every day.

    ReplyDelete